Category Archives: Manga-related

It’s been a while since I’ve posted anything since my life just hasn’t felt normal in quite a while. I’m still working at the Red Parrot, I’m still watching the Heat in the NBA Finals, I’m still taking care of Maximus Reed Wong, but other then that it seems like my life hasn’t quite moved much lately.

Almost as if time isn’t passing as it quickly as it should be.

Let me start off with those subjects I just talked about in further detail before we continue.

Starting with the dog first, for those of you who are new to my blog, Maximus Reed, aka. Max, Stinky Max, The Rat, is my nearly 1 year old Rat Terrier. He’s the only dog I’ve ever seen that has a bunny tail that wags so hard that his butt wiggles back and forth when he’s excited about something. He’s happy for the most part but just like me seems to be saddened by something missing in his life. He’s gotten a lot bigger in the past several months, most likely because mom and dad have been feeding him rotisserie chicken and cheese (at just the right temperature and shredded to just the right size btw) all the time. We all try to run with him at least once a day, and i’m trying to get my mile time down to under 7.

A man has dreams to you know? As long as I’m smoking cigarettes (yes I went back to smoking menthol cigarettes) I doubt I’m going to get it down to under 7 without really pushing myself. I really don’t want to put in to much strenuous cardio at the moment since it’s so hot and humid outside. Luckily Max doesn’t really have sweat glands so he doesn’t stink regardless of how long he runs around.

We both enjoy the time together alone.

It gives me time to think, time to remember pain, time to compose myself so that I can spend another day numbing myself and sealing my memories in a compartment. The rest of the time I choose to force myself to appear happy and unaffected, but it’s really hard when everyone around you spent every moment creating physical reminders for every single memory. Max has even had some bad dreams lately where he seems to be crying out or barking at something in his sleep. It’s fairly disturbing to see a dog running on his side while asleep, especially when his claws are up against your back. If only there was something I could do for him. I’ve tried telling him in the past that he wasn’t abandoned, that he was only a casualty of a war between his parents, an innocent bystander hit by shrapnel.

I’m not sure he understands.

As for Miami, they are currently losing to the San Antonio Spurs 3-2, and tonight is game 6, the first of two finals games at home in Miami. I’m not really worried about them tonight since they almost never lose two post season games in a row, That would set up game 7 with the championship on the line, and this is where my nerves start getting to me.

So what’s the problem Miami?

It’s not like you don’t have the offensive firepower or the current and 4-time MVP on your team, Lebron James. There are good shooters all over the team that can hit 3-pointers (Ray Allen, Mike Miller, LBJ, Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh, etc.), as well as multiple big time players that can penetrate to the basket or make the mid-range jump shot as well (Chris Anderson, Norris Cole, Mario Chalmers, Allen, LBJ, Wade, Bosh, etc.). So why do you look so confused when it comes times to make decisions in your half court offense, especially when your coming off a win? Did you somehow think San Antonio, with most of the star players having been a part of at least 3 of the past 4 championships, was going to just beat themselves with mistakes and give you a freebie? The saddest thing is that even with Wade’s knee injury, this team is supposed to be dominant enough to handle any championship-level team.

Instead they find themselves on the brink of elimination against a much less dangerous Spurs team, one without Tim Duncan playing at an MVP level, where Giniobli was averaging 7.5 points per game up until game 5, and Tony Parker their star point guard has been hampered by a hamstring injury. Imagine if this was the 2003 or 2005 Spurs team that swept Lebron’s Cavaliers or the younger team that massacred the Nets 4 games to 1.

If this Heat team can’t step up their game, focus and concentration for 2 games in a row, at home no less, what makes you think they could beat them when they were at their best? LeBron’s legacy is on the line tonight and on Thursday. Wade has 2 championships and a Finals MVP already next to his name. Bosh isn’t really expected to carry this team to victory. (not to mention he hasn’t had a 30 point game this entire postseason).If he wins, he’s 2 and 2 in championships and can finally exorcise the demons surrounding his postseason play versus San Antonio. If he loses he’s 1-3 all-time and his reputation will take a huge blow. This team was the favorite to the win the championship at the start of the playoffs, he will possibly never have a better chance to win another one than with this team built to win championships.

All we can do is watch and pray.

So what else is new?

Not much has happened at the restaurant other then building up our Arlington location, oh and we’ve started our regular/VIP customer program with GetPerka.com. I’ve come up with several new drinks over the past couple weeks, such as a Passion fruit Basil Mojito, a Sweet & Sour frozen Mango Margarita, and several Fruit-infused cold Sakes. Other then that I’ve just been putting in the hours, counting the time until I can get off and go home so I can drown myself in reading materials or watching countless animes/reading mangas.

My grandmother is back in the hospital again, on my father’s side of the family. They live all the way across the country in Los Angeles, so for us to take an emergency trip would be super expensive at the last moment. We talked to dad’s siblings and other family members that live over there and thought maybe she would be better or at least up to waiting several more days before my entire immediate family takes a flight (and time off) across the US. It doesn’t seem like that’s going to happen now, she’s really weak and hasn’t been eating very much. As long as she continues down that path, she has only a very small possibility of ever fully recovering, so I think it’s time we made that trip. Wonderful, what else does God have in store for me?

I finally realize something that I had locked away for a long time prior to being in my past relationship. I know now why I had stopped caring, why I had treated my ex’s and girls in general like useless garbage, cheating on them and barely acknowledging their or my own feelings. It’s so much easier to stay out of the fray, to look down on people with a cool sense of superiority than to let them into your life. That way no one can hurt you.

Nobody can tell you they love you, and that they are the only one meant for you and turn around and hurt you worse then anyone before. Nobody can look you right in the eyes and tell you they miss and care about you while secretly calling the police on you and hoping you would die or go to jail. If you can treat your dog this way, what else are you capable of? If your so worried about taking pictures of everything and loading them up on your social media sites, how can you turn off everything and not even wonder what has happened to them?

I’ve went out with several girls over the past month or so and tried to forget the past but it seems that everywhere I go there’s another picture frame hidden behind a desk, on the top of a banister or tucked in a box of forgotten memories. Whenever I focus on what I’m feeling at the moment, I realize that I currently feel nothing but regret and pain. Wouldn’t it have been better if I had never come to this realization at all?

I think I would rather have been stabbed or shot like some of my other ex’s have done to me then for this particular outcome to happen.It’s as if all the colors of spring and summer have been bleached from my surroundings. White looks like Grey, Yellow looks like dull Orange, and black looks even darker. My hands waved in front of my face move in slow-motion and without any enthusiasm, almost as if I was walking in a nightmare but can’t wake myself up. I want to say something or do something that will restore me to full health, but I cannot even face my demons without the threat of police intervention.

Have I ever told you how much I hate the police in my county? They are some of the most corrupt officials I’ve ever met.

I haven’t even picked up a piece of jewelry or read a book about jewelry since I was forcefully removed from my own home. I’m not even going to go into the reasons why, suffice it to say that lies were spoken and trust was betrayed for this to occur.

I’m sure I will eventually move on and find some sort of minor happiness in my life, but I doubt I’ll ever be the same. It pains me to smile. I will never fully trust anyone ever again until I have dealt with these demons of my past, I might never even love anyone outside of my family. If this type of person could be corrupted by whatever reasons into actually hurting me intentionally, what hope is there for any normal women to be what they say they are.

Don’t get me wrong, I’ve had my share of faults. I’ve lied (rarely), and been lazy, haven’t taken responsibility or been there when I was supposed too, taken care of everything a man should take care of, and yelled and made a big deal out of things when I should have been there to listen. I’ve hurt people and not been aware of their feelings before, especially those who I claimed to love. But there are certain principles and guidelines that can never be stepped across. Once you’ve done certain things, they cannot be taken back. Words are just words until the police get involved, or until someone snaps and gets physically damaged, and we’re not talking about restraining someone. We’re talking about killing someone with your bare hands, or accidentally shooting them with a gun or stabbing them with a knife. You claim that you’ve been hurt, but how much worse were your failed marriages?

So which one is it, both cannot be true. Either she lied about her past, and made me spend much of the relationship attempting to repair things she overstated/overreacted to OR it’s true and yet somehow it’s conveniently forgotten all the times I spent planning out dates, buying cards/flowers, cooking her dinner, visiting and being humble and polite to her family, or just flat out spending my waking moments with her.

What about love? You were barren prior to my touch. It’s just that simple. Nobody loved you or your insecurities, nobody kissed the cut on your lip or the scars on your womb. Nobody appreciated you trying to cook them burnt eggs and spam, or took you out on Valentine’s day.

“I’ll never forget all the things you’ve done for me. I appreciate everything. I’ll show you I do.”

So where is your memory?

I never thought I’d be so gullible. Me? I was untouchable, infallible, I always had an ace up my sleeve (someone I slept with that I could use as ammo when the inevitable break-up occured).

Maybe it’s better if I just live in fantasy land, reading and watching anime and living vicariously through the stories of others. Maybe with time I will fade away until I become nothing more than a ghost, feeding off the emotions and memories of others and gaining strength from negative emotions like jealously and hate.

After reading chapter 627, the latest chapter of the Naruto Shippuden Manga, this is all I have to say:

God damnit, why the hell do I have to wait a whole week for the continuation of this chapter?!

That’s 7 days from now at the bare minimum, and that’s if they don’t put in some ridiculous filler chapter or another long character developing back story.

I’m not kidding when I say I’m gonna spend several days typing different combinations of the words Naruto, Manga, and 628 into the Google search box in a pitiful attempt to find any website that can offer any details, or hopefully even the latest chapter.

It’s sad what trying to find this amazing manga/anime prior to 12:00 AM EST on Wednesday can do to an otherwise rational, fully grown man.

When we last left off, Orochimaru, Suigetsu, Jugo and Sasuke Uchiha were still listening to Hashirama Senju’s chapters-long character development story of Madara Uchiha and his own relationship.

After hearing everything that happened, all the sacrifices made to maintain Konoha’s continuity and relative peace, Sasuke is left speechless and confused.

When this conversation began, right after Orochimaru absorbed the Zetsu clones and used Edo Tensei to reanimate the four previous Hokage, it looked like it would once again be Clan Uchiha against the world.

Instead it turns out that Tobirama was just exercising caution, mediating and keeping an eye out for all dangerous, powerful clans that might cause the village harm, rather than just the Uchiha like I had previously thought.

Sasuke comes to the realization that everything the Hokages did, everything his brother and Shishui sacrificed, they did for the benefit all those who call the village a safe haven.

They sacrificed everything, including their lives, to save the future, aka: the children of Konoha village.

Rather then having his hand forced by the village elders, Itachi realized that everything the village stands for was placed in jeopardy when his clansmen began plotting to overthrow the democratically-elected leadership.

Most importantly, Sasuke finally reaches the mental decision that he has a responsibility to help the village endure, just like Itachi, Shishui, the 4 previous Hokages, and Kagami Uchiha all did.

**I have been saying this for a LOOOONG time, Sasuke needs to grow up and mature. His abilities including the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan he got by taking Itachi’s eyes makes him one of the most powerful shinobi in the Naruto universe, something that he has squandered and used only to settle personal vendettas so far. His family getting slaughtered is nothing out of the ordinary among the ninja villages.

Some names off the top of my head that had it just as bad as him are: Orochimaru (who never knew his parents), Kabuto (orphan), Naruto (has never seen his parents outside of alternate dimensions, genjutsu and sealed in a fuinjutsu), Kimimaro (watched his whole clan get slaughtered), Gaara (father/uncle attempted to assassinate him repeatedly, killed uncle unknowingly), pretty much every other jinchuriki, Kakashi (dad commited suicide), etc.**

Anyways, after much soul-searching involving everything he could remember about his relationship with his older brother, Sasuke finally comes to a decision.

He will not let his brother, and the Leaf, to be wasted over petty quarrels and such a small notion as revenge.

I could hardly believe that he came to this decision after one short conversation with the Hokages, where was the years of depression, rage, anger, and sadness?

Remember that only a few months ago, during and after the 5 Kage summit meeting, he had spoken to Gaara, and then Team 7, over where his destiny was headed.

He even tried to assassinate Sakura, perhaps the only person in the world that was still able to overlook his numerous crimes. Besides Naruto and his boy love of course.

Regardless of how it happened it still happened, and I’m assuming that Sasuke has given up on taking revenge against the entire Ninja world for forcing his brother to give up his career as a genius Konoha ninja, to live life as a hated missing-nin in the employment of Pain and Tobi’s brotherhood of exceptionally evil men, the Akatsuki.

Everyone currently at the Naka shrine is as shocked as I am at this turn of events, and in the case of the 4 Hokages, delighted.

Even Orochimaru, who previously led the Sand & Sound in a combined attack on Konoha, AND who actually caused the 3rd Hokage‘s death, appears to at least accept the need to go to war against Madara & Obito.

That’s pretty much it, if you don’t count a little grandstanding on the part of the Hokage’s using their Hiraishin (Flying Thunder God) technique to each stand on top of their respective stone faces.

Oh, somehow Karin escapes Konoha prison, miraculously, just in time to kick an escaping Suigetsu in the face.

How this happens is a complete mystery to me since she is technically a prisoner of war, under the care of numerous high ranking Leaf ninjas.

Not to mention the fact that the village was previously wiped out by the Ten Tail’s massive tailed beast ball, something that had taken out the allied shinobi forces headquarters, killed countless other ninjas but somehow left one not very strong female ninja alive.

I don’t know.

She immediately tackles Sasuke in a loving embrace, to his very obvious discomfort.

I would feel awkward and uncomfortable as well if I had previously shot the girl through the chest with a Chidori spike, just like Sasuke did.

Oh well.

Other then that seemingly meaningless comic relief moment, this is huge news for Naruto fans around the world.

Sasuke, Orochimaru, the 4 Hokages, and to a lesser extent, Suigetsu, Jugo and Karin are going to war!

Glimpse into Madness

The mind can be as beautiful as the night sky, or as dangerous and warped as the teeth of a rabid racoon. Years of traumatic experiences swirl into various colors and forms, mind-altering substances giving birth to conceptual fantasy. Morality defined by society, undefined by God or nature.
Don't hate the words, Hate the context.